    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book III)]
    [October 18, 2004]
    [Pages 2576-2577]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2005
    October 18, 2004

        Today, I have signed into law H.R. 4850, the ``District of Columbia
    Appropriations Act, 2005.'' The bill appropriates funds for the
    Government of the District of Columbia and other activities chargeable
    against the revenues of the District.
        The provision of the Act relating to the Federal payment to the
    office of the District's Chief Financial Officer makes funds available
    for the projects and in the amounts specified in the statement of
    managers accompanying the conference report on the Act. While the
    specifications of projects and amounts in the statement of managers
    cannot satisfy the constitutional requirements of bicameral approval and
    presentment to the President needed to give them the force of law, the
    executive branch shall treat the specifications in a manner reflecting
    the comity between the

    [[Page 2577]]

    executive and legislative branches on such matters.
        Section 309 of the Act purports to require the use of particular
    revenue estimates in the budget request for fiscal year 2006. The
    executive branch shall construe section 309 in a manner consistent with
    the President's constitutional authority to recommend for congressional
    consideration such measures, including requests for appropriations, as
    he judges necessary and expedient.
        Section 331(5) of the Act purports to require congressional
    committee approval prior to obligation or expenditure of appropriated
    funds. The executive branch shall construe this provision to require
    only prior notification to the congressional committees, as any other
    construction would be contrary to the constitutional principles set
    forth by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1983 in INS v.
    Chadha.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     October 18, 2004.

    Note: H.R. 4850, approved October 18, was assigned Public Law No. 108-
    335.